Finger-hold models for bowling balls



Dec. 28, 1965 G. E. DOREY 3,225,443

FINGER-HOLD MODELS FOR BOWLING BALLS Filed May 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet J INVENTOR.' GEORGE E. DOREY ATTORNEYS.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 28, 1965 G. E. DOREY FINGER-HOLD MODELS FOR BOWLING BALLS Filed May 22, 1962 ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 28, 1965 G. E. DOREY 3,225,448

FINGER-HOLD MODELS FOR BOWLING BALLS Filed May 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 H1 MW INVENTOR. GEORGE E. DOREY ATTORNEYS.

- Dec. 28, 1965 s. E. DOREY 3,225,443

FINGER-HOLD MODELS FOR BOWLING BALLS Filed May 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ='i FIG. 9

25 a PM IO 3 35 b. i f i I uh I 87 iwg l \33 43 40 I '7\47 F I6. 12

85 II V FIG 404 ||I I n I 1 f INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,225,448 FINGER-HOLD MODELS FOR BOWLING BALLS George E. Dorey, 12243 Irving Ave., Blue Island, Ill. Filed May 22, 1962, Ser. No. 196,764 Claims. (Cl. 33174) My invention relates to bowling balls, and more particularly to the nature of the hold assumed on the same by different players. Ordinarily, bowling balls are made with a more or less uniform spacing and inclination of finger holes, in order to suit average players. However, when players are experienced or professional, the question of finger hole spacing and inclination becomes important, and balls are made with various conditions in those respects in order to suit different players. According to present practice, a ball is selected merely by direct or repeated trial until one is found which is suitable to the fingers of the player. This method is largely guesswork and often unreliable, and it is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a model in which the desirable hold of the fingers may be determined by a series of adjustments, and the model used as a guide for drilling the bowling ball to measure.

A further object is to provide a model engageable in the manner of a bowling ball, and having means to adjust the spacing and angularity of the finger holes for the most comfortable and retentive hold of the ball.

A still further object is to design a model of the above character which contains a set of units in the nature of receptacles simulating the thumb and finger holes of a bowling ball, such units being adjustable both as to spacing and angle while the fingers of the player are applied to them until the proper relation of the receptacles is found.

Another object is to provide a model of the above character which has a series of simple controls for the adjusting units mentioned above, whereby to enable adjustments to be made quickly and easily.

An additional object is to provide instruments indi-. cating the angularity of finger positions determined in the model.

A final object is to construct the model along lines of mechanical efiiciency and durability.

With the above objects in view, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the finger-hold model, on a reduced scale;

FIG. 2 is an interior frontal elevational of the main portion of the model, partly in section and on a scale approaching full size;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, with lateral portions omitted;

FIG. 4 is an end view from the left-hand side of FIG. 2, partly broken away, but including a thumb receptacle;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view, with finger receptacles removed and portions of a cover broken away to expose the lower mechanism of the model;

FIG. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 9 is a section on the line 99 of FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are, respectively, sections on the lines 1010, 1111 and 12l2 of FIG. 2.

The model to which the finger-hold referred to above is ap licable, is in part similar to a bowling ball; and specific reference to FIGURE 1 in the drawings indicates the upper part of the model as a hemisphere 15, such part also serving as a cover for the mechanism of the model; and such mechanism is preferably supported on a stand having upright posts 16 and a base 17.

The frame of the mechanism comprises a pair of alined horizontal plates 19 in the bottom of the cover 15,

3,225,443 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 ice such plates being the diametrical part of a ring 20 forming the bottom of the mechanism frame; and the ring is secured for support on the posts 16 of the stand. The plates 19 are joined by an underslung hanger 22.

The units for fitting the fingers to the model are a set of tubular receptacles and 26 having a more or less upright position. The cover is made with openings 25a and 26a for access to the receptacles, as shown in FIG. 3. The receptacles are designed for the slidable insertion of finger tubes 25b and 26b of uniform external diameter. However, the tubes are in an assortment with internal bores of different diameters to suit finger thicknesses of different persons. The mechanism contains means for supporting the receptacles and adjusting the spacing and inclination thereof to a point where the hold of the fingers in the tubes 25b and 25b is both comfortable and retentive.

The plates 19 carry a pair of bearings 30 for a shaft 32. Between the bearings the shaft receives a pair of arcuate cradles 33, ears 34 at the inner ends of these being perforated to receive the shaft 32. Each cradle is composed of a pair of parallel bars with spacers 36 and securing bolts 38 at their outer ends; and blocks 49 and 41 are disposed between the bars of each cradle, the blocks having side ribs 42 which seat in grooves 43 made in the inner faces of the cradle bars 33. Thus, the blocks and 41 are slidable in arcuate paths toward and from each other in the respective cradles.

The sliding motion of the blocks 40 and 41 is controlled by a pair of thumb screws 45. As seen in FIG. 9, each of these threads through a bearing 46 which is swiveled in ears 47 depending from the related block 40 (or 41), the screw continuing inwardly to be journaled with its inner end in a bearing 48 swiveled in a pair of cars 49 depending from the related cradle 33. Thus, as seen in the same figure, the turning of the left-hand thumb screw 45 secures the travel of the block 40 in its cradle, the bearing 46 allowing for the change of angularity between the screw and the block, while the hearing 48 makes the same allowance between the screw and the cradle. The block 41 is also adjustable as described by the turning of the right-hand thumb screw 45.

The cradles are movable pivotally in respect to the shaft 32. Thus, FIG. 9 shows that the hanger 22 has a center bearing 51 to journal a longitudinally-fixed thumb screw 55 which is vertically positioned in the center of the stand. Each cradle 33 has a pair of pendent ears 57 in which the outer ends of a pair of arms 58 are ivoted at 58a, the arms extending inclinedly toward the thumb screw 55. Here the latter carries a transverse nut 59 to which the inner ends of the arms 58 are pivotally attached as indicated at 60. Thus, the rotation of the thumb screw 55 will cause the nut 59 to rise and fall, raising or lowering the outer ends of the cradles while they pivot about the center shaft 32. For purposes of balance, alternate bars of the cradles 33 receive the cars 57.

It is now apparent that the turning of the thumb screw 55 will pivot the cradles 33 in upward or downward dir-ection with the effect of spacing the proximate entrance portions. of the tubes 25b and 26b accordingly, this spacing at the surface of the bowling ball being the basic span between the thumb and forefingers when the hold on the ball is assumed; and FIG. 1 shows that the aforesaid entrance portions are in line with such surface. After the span adjustment, the the turning of either or both of the thumb screws 45 procures the swing of the corresponding receptacles along the curvatures of the cradles and about the aforesaid entrance portions as pivots while these remain stationary, preserving the essential span adjustment first referred to while the angle between the thumb and forefinger positions is determined.

It is also necessary to adjust the plane of the recepta' cles 26 to lateral angularity, to adjust these receptacles as to lateral spacing, and to adjust the lateral placement of the receptacle according to the location of the thumb-that is, toward one side when it is the thumb of the right hand, and toward the other side when it is the thumb of the left hand. The means for making these adjustments possible will now be described.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show that an elongated casing is mounted on the block 41. The casing has a center hub 65:: depending into a cavity 41a of the block. A disc 67 is lodged in the bottom of the cavity and serves as a swivel for a pin 68 driven upwardly into the casing hub 65a. The casing is thus rotatable in a horizontal plane; and the periphery of the hub is milled, as indicated at 6517 in FIG. 6. A pair of horizontal bolts 70 are screwed with their inner ends into the block 41, while their outer ends are joined by a cross bar 71 and extend to receive securing nuts 70a. A thumb screw 73 threads through the cross bar 71 to terminate with a pin 730, which seats freely in a cross-head 75 mounted slidably on the bolts 70. The latter receive compression springs 76 between the block 41 and the cross-head, as seen in FIG. 6; and the cross-head has a center stern 75a directed toward the casing hub 65a with a chisel point 75!). The engagement of the latter with a milling groove of the hub periphery as shown locks the casing from turning. However, when the thumb screw 73 is turned in the receding direction, the springs 76 will back the chisel point 75b out of engagement with the hub 65a, enabling the casing to be swung for changing the plane of the receptacles 26 in respect to lateral angularity. When a suitable adjustment has been obtained, the casing can be locked in position by advancing the thumb screw 73.

The casing 65 is an intermediary between the block 41 and a pair of slides 80 in the top of the casing, the slides constituting bases for the receptacles 26. The outer portions of the slides rest on end blocks 65c carried by the casing 65; and the inner end portions of the slides have lugs 80a secured to the slides by screws 8% and depending into the casing, as shown in FIG. 7. A thumb screw 82 extends longitudinally Within the casing and finds bearings in the end blocks 65c, the screws having plain portions formed with enlargements 82a in such bearings in order to be locked against endwise motion. Between the blocks, the thumb screw 82 is made with opposite threads 8217 meshing with the lugs 80a, so that these will serve as traveling nuts when the thumb screw is turned, causing the slides 80 to gather or separate, according to the direction in which the thumb screw is turned. The receptacles 26 are thus adjustable to conform to the most convenient spread of the fingers in the tubes 26b. Because of the threading relation between the thumb screw 82 and the slides, the latter Will maintain their setting at any point where the turning of the thumb screw is stopped, until the same is again turned.

The lateral control of the thumb receptacle 25 rests in an arcuate slide 85 disposed in a slot 40a of the same curvature made in the block 40, as seen in FIGS. 10 to 12. The top of the block is open for the exposure. of the middle portion of the slide; and such middle portion carries the receptacle 25. The under side of the slide 85 is in the form of a gear rack 85a. A thumb screw 87 is journaled transversely in the block 40, as shown at 4012; and the thumb screw carries a worm 87a in mesh with the rack 85a. By means of this control the thumb receptacle becomes adjustable transversely of the block 40, assuming a tilt toward each end of its travel. Thus, if the movement of the receptacle is toward the left as seen in FIG. 4, the receptacle will assume a position conforming to that of the thumb of the right hand; and the same holds in the opposite direction if an adjustment for the left hand is desired.

When the span and angular spacing between the thumb and forefinger positions have been determined as previously explained, the thumb screw 73 may be turned to adjust the spacing of one or the other forefinger position from that of the thumb. Next, the thumb screw 82 may be adjusted to space the forefingers from each other, so that they may have a desired spread. Finally, the thumb screw 87 may be actuated to impart the proper lateral tilt to the thumb tube 25b for the thumb of a right or left hand. When the aforesaid adjustments have secured a finger hold in the tubes which is both retentive and comfortable, the positions of the tubes represent the spacing and angularity of the holes to be drilled in a bowling ball designed to fit the particular hand.

With the receptacles 25 and 26 adjusted as described to impart a desirable finger-hold to a given hand, measurements may be taken between the finger tubes, and betWeen these and the thumb tube, and marked on the surface of the bowling ball to be drilled. As to the angles of the tubes, FIGS. 2 and 4 show a fixture 9t) welded to the hanger 22 at 90a and extending laterally with a bar 92. Near the ends of the latter, carriages 93 are slidable on the bar, each carriage being extended upwardly with a calibrated quadrant 94. The blocks 40 and 41 each have a side rod 96 depending in a position behind the related quadrant 94, the latter having a bearing 94a for the passage of the rod, and such bearing being pivoted at 941) to the quadrant. The rod carries a pointer 96a in front of the quadrant. It will now be apparent that angular changes in the movement of the blocks 40 and 41 will be identified by the circular sweep of the rod 96 in relation to the quadrant calibrations; and the shifting movement of the blocks will be absorbed by the sliding of the quadrant along the horizontal bar 92. FIG. 4 shows a single protractor installation 98 for the receptacle 25 in relation to a center mark on the block 40 in order to determine the angle of transverse adjustment of the receptacle. It follows now, when a drill is directed at the angles noted on the model, that the holes drilled in the ball will duplicate the positions and angles of the finger holes in the model.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minor changes or refinements may be made therein without departing from its principle, and I reserve the right to employ all such changes and refinements as may come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A finger-hold model for bowling balls comprising a support, a set of receptacles carried by the same and simulative of the holes in which the thumb and forefingers are insertible to hold a bowling ball, and a mechanism to adjust the receptacles in spacing and angular relations afiording a comfortable and retentive hold of the receptacles by the thumb and forefingers, said support containing longitudinally-alined ways in which the inner ends of the receptacles are supported and slidable toward and from each other, said mechanism including means pivoting the inner ends of said ways horizontally to the support, other means carried by the latter and directed to the outer ends of said ways to swing them in relation to their pivoting means, and said means including a pair of screws extending alongside said ways, the inner ends of the screws being pivoted to those of the related ways, and the receptacles carrying traveling nuts mounted on the related screws, the outer ends of these being rotatable to slide the receptacles as stated.

2. A finger-hold model for bowling balls comprising a support, a set of receptacles carried by the same and simulative of the holes in which the thumb and forefingers are insertible to hold a bowling ball, and a mechanism to adjust the receptacles in spacing and angular relations affording a comfortable and retentive hold of the receptacles by the thumb and forefingers, said receptacles being one for the thumb and a pair for the forefingers,

said support containing longitudinally-alined ways in which the inner ends of the receptacles are supported and slidable toward and from each other, said mechanism including means pivoting the inner ends of said ways horizontally to the support, other means carried by the latter and directed to the outer ends of said ways to swing them in relation to their pivoting means, and said mechanism including a pair of screws extending alongside said ways, the inner ends of the screws being pivoted in swiveled bearings carried by the inner ends of the related ways, and the receptacles carrying traveling nuts mounted on the related screws, the outer ends of these being rotatable to slide the receptacles as stated.

3. A finger-hold model for bowling balls comprising a support, a set of receptacles carried by the same and simulative of the holes in which the thumb and forefingers are insertible to hold a bowling ball, and a mechanism to adjust the receptacles in spacing and angular relations affording a comfortable and retentive hold of the receptacles by the thumb and forefingers, said receptacles being one for the thumb and a pair for the forefingers, said support containing longitudinally-aimed ways in which the inner ends of the receptacles are supported and slidable toward and from each other, said mechanism including means pivoting the inner ends of said ways horizontally to the support, other means carried by the latter and directed to the outer ends of said ways to swing them in relation to their pivoting means, said mechanism in cluding a pair of screws extending alongside said ways, the inner ends of the screws being pivoted to those of the related ways, and the receptacles carrying traveling nuts swiveled in the latter and mounted on the related screws, the outer ends of these being rotatable to slide the receptacles as stated.

4. A finger-hold model for bowling balls comprising a support, a set of receptacles carried by the same and simulative of the holes in which the thumb and torefingers are insertible to hold a bowling ball, said receptacles being one for the thumb and a pair for the forefingers, said support containing longitudinally-alined arcuate cradles in which the thumb and forefinger receptacles are slidable toward and from each other in arcuate paths, a stationary member carried by the support, and means operated by the receptacles in relation to such member for indicating the angularity of the receptacles at any point in said paths, said member being a bar, and said means comprising a rod extending from the thumb receptacle, a companion rod extending from the pair of forefinger receptacles, both rods directed alongside said bar, a scale quadrant alongside each rod and slidable on the bar, and a swivel centered on each quadrant and having a bore for the slidable passage of the related rod, the sliding of each quadrant on the bar duplicating the sliding movements of the thumb and forefinger receptacles, and the rods pivoting with their swivels according to the angularity of the related receptacles, the rods intersecting the scales of the quadrants as indicators of such angularity.

5. A finger-hold model for bowling balls comprising a support, a set of receptacles carried by the same and simulative of the holes in which the thumb and forefingers are insertible to hold a bowling ball, said receptacles being one for the thumb and a pair for the forefingers, said support containing longitudinally-alined arcuate cradles in which the thumb and forefinger receptacles are slidable toward and from each other in arcuate paths, a stationary member carried by the support, and means operated by the receptacles in relation to such member for indicating the angularity of the receptacles at any point in said paths, said support having a pendent central hanger, and said means being a horizontal bar carried by the hanger, a rod depending from the thumb receptacle, a companion rod depending from the pair of forefinger receptacles, both rods directed alongside said bar, a scale quadrant alongside each rod and slidable on the bar, and a swivel centered on each quadrant and having a bore for the slidable passage of the related rod, the sliding of each quadrant on the bar duplicating the sliding movements of the thumb and forefinger receptacles, and the rods pivoting with their swivels according to the angularity of the related receptacles, the rods intersecting the scales of the quadrants as indicators of such angularity.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,693,034 11/1954 Watson 33-174 2,709,853 6/1955 Bessner 33174 2,726,454 12/1955 Belski 33174 2,799,943 7/1957 Shetler 33-174 2,910,780 11/1959 Nefi 33-174 2,976,616 3/1961 Doyle 33174 LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner.

LEONARD FORMAN, ROBERT L. EVANS,

Examiners. 

1. A FINGER-HOLD MODEL FOR BOWLING BALLS COMPRISING A SUPPORT, A SET OF RECEPTACLES CARRIED BY THE SAME AND SIMULATIVE OF THE HOLES IN WHICH THE THUMB AND FOREFINGERS ARE INSERTIBLE TO HOLD A BOWLING BALL, AND A MECHANISM TO ADJUST THE RECEPTACLES IN SPACING AND ANGULAR RELATIONS AFFORDING A COMFORTABLE AND INTENTIVE HOLD OF THE RECEPTACLES BY THE THUMB AND FOREFINGERS, SAID SUPPORT CONTAINING LONGITUDINALLY-ALINED WAYS IN WHICH THE INNER ENDS OF THE RECEPTACLES ARE SUPPORTED AND SLIDABLE TOWARD AND FROM EACH OTHER, SAID MECHANISM INCLUDING MEANS PIVOTING THE INNER ENDS OF SAID WAYS HORIZONTALLY TO THE SUPPORT, OTHER MEANS CARRIED BY THE LATTER AND DIRECTED TO THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID WAYS TO SWING THEM IN RELATION TO THEIR PIVOTING MEANS, AND SAID MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF SCREWS EXTENDING ALONGSIDE SAID WAYS, THE INNER ENDS OF THE SCREWS BEING PIVOTED TO THOSE OF THE RELATED WAYS, AND THE RECEPTACLES CARRYING TRAVELING NUTS MOUNTED ON THE RELATED SCREWS, THE OUTER ENDS OF THESE BEING ROTATABLE TO SLIDE THE RECEPTACLES AS STATED. 